Device for attaching corner hinges to adjoining panels



May 17, 1955 J. B. FREAR 2,708,462

DEVICE RoR ATTACHING CORNER HINGEs To ADJOINING PANELs Filed June 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l @yf M0@ 515% @a J. B. FREAR May 17, 1955 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING CORNER HINGES TO ADJOINING PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet-Z Filed June '7, 1951 @www V?" waf om wm, E N@ m6 J. B. FREAR May 17, 1955 DEVICE FOR ATTACHING CORNER HINGES TO ADJOINING PANELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 7, 1951 May 17, 1955 J. B. FREAR 2,708,462

DEVICE FOR ATTACHING CORNER HINGES TO ADJOINING PANELS Filed June 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent() DEVICE FOR ATTACHING CORNER HINGES T ADJOINING PANELS Jenness B. Frear, Altadena, Calif., assignor to Watkins Patents, Inc., Quincy, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 7, 1951, Serial No. 230,305 12 Claims. (Cl. 140-93) The present invention relates to a novel construction of a tool or device for the assembly of a pair of corner hinges joining adjacent panels or side walls of a collapsible crate, container or the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel tool or mechanism for joining adjacent panels or sides of a crate or container by means of wire hinges of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 205,889, filed January 13, 1951, now Patent No. 2,672,252, issued March 16, 1954.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool for facilitating the connection and assembly of a pair of wire corner hinges having interengaging and interlocking ends for hinging together adjacent panels of a crate or container assembly.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a novel tool having threading and clinching mechanism so constructed and arranged as to thread together and join the ends of a pair of corner hinges each of which is provided with spaced projecting legs the end of one of which is formed with an eye or loop, and the end of the other adapted to be threaded through an eye or loop, whereby when the hinges are assembled the projecting or threading end of one hinge is received in and projected through the eye or loop of the other hinge and clinched thereover.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel mechanically-operated means and manner of quickly and accurately assembling a corner hinge construction formed of complementary wire hinges for hinging t'he sides or panels of a collapsible crate or conrainer.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that thesame is susceptible of modication and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the present novel threading and clinching tool or device located in operative position for hinging the adjacent panels or sides of a crate or container.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front eleva.- tion of the t'ool and showing the position of one of its pair of threading pitmans and threading levers in an initial stage of operation in which the actuating handle therefor is being depressed or lowered, it being understood that the other threading lever and pitman are constructed similarly to that shown and operate in synchronism therewith, but are disposed in opposed relation as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with one of the threading pitmans lowered into contacting engagement with the longer leg of a hinge and its threading lever 2,708,462 Patented May 17, 1955 ICC swung or rotated into engagement with the shorter leg of the other of a pair of hinges whereby to thread this shorter leg into the eye of the longer leg.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front elevation 0f the tool showing the threading pitman in its fully lowered or depressed position in which the eX- treme lower end thereof seats upon the eye of one hinge member, and the cam surface of this end is in engagement with and has bent outwardly the shorter leg of the other or adjacent member preparatory to the clinching operation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front elevation showing the interlocked ends of the adjacent hinge members in the position they occupied in Fig. 5, but with a threading pitman elevated or moved to its raised, inoperative position and with the end of one of the pair of clinching pitmans lowered into initial engagement with the partially bent shorter leg after the latter has been bent to the position shown by the threading pitman.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view in front elevation of the clinching pitman shown in Fig. 6 but depressed or moved to its fully lowered position where the end of the bent legs of the adjoining hinges are clinched against or slightly embedded in the hinged panels.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View in Vertical cross section of the lower end of one of the clinching pitmans and showing its camming face or surface and recess at the base and rear thereof.

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective showing the clinched legs of adjoining hinges.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the adjoining corner hinges joined and interlocked together, the panels in which they are mounted being omitted for a clearer disclosure of the construction and arrangement of these hinges in their initial assembled relation.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the novel tool or device with various parts thereof omitted or broken away and showing the construction and arrangement of the handles for operating the clinching and threading pitmans, portions of which were omitted in Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a view in front elevation of one of the two right and left-hand shoes for the rocker plate.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View in perspective of an intermediate portion of one of the clinching pitmans.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the upper end of the back plate and showing the upper and lower stops for the upper handle operating the clinching pitmans, and the upper stop for the lower handle operating the threading pitmans.

Fig. 15 is a perspective View of the yoke and guide bar and showing its rear conformation.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the novel tool or device herein disclosed is designed, constructed and adapted for applying, threading and clinching wire hinge elements for joining the adjacent panels, sides or walls of crates, containers, boxes and the like, hereinafter referred to generally as panels and crates. The novel tool comprises an assembly adapted to be mounted in Such manner that the panels to be hingedly connected are disposed and aligned therebeneath in a substantially horizontal plane, after which the tool is lowered or moved relative to the crate panels to the position shown in Fig. 1. ln this position a cam or cammed extension 10 mounted on the lower end and at the front of a Vertical bar or center guide piece 11 is positioned upon and bears against adjacent crate panels 12 and 12a which are to be hingedly joined by a pair of similarly formed hinge elements 13 and 14, respectively.

These hinge elements are shown as bent or formed in avoir/162 3 a manner similar to those disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 205,889, filed January 13, 1951, now Patent No. 2,672,252, issued March 16, 1954. Each is preferably formed of wire of suitable gauge and of substantially U-shape with a relatively long and outwardly inclined leg and a relatively short and vertically extending leg 16, the latter being projected through a panel and then connected to the long leg 15 of the adjacent hinge and panel. To receive these hinges, preformed aligned openings are preferably provided in a slot 17 and in a cleat 13 of the adjacent crate panels 12 and 12R. The purpose or function of the present attaching tool is to thread together' the ends of adjoining hinges and to clinch and rigidly connect these adjoining or adjacent hinge elements by bending, aligning and interlocking an eye or loop 19 on the relatively long and partially bent or inclined leg 15 of one hinge element with the projecting end on the shorter leg 16, and thereafter further bending and clinching these projecting ends against the exterior of the cleats 18 of the adjacent panels.

To move or guide the tool to its proper operative position as it is lowered onto or moved relative to the crate panels 12 and 12a, there is preferably provided a side handle 22 secured to a rigid back or supporting plate 23 upon which the component parts or mechanism of the tool are mounted. To aid in guiding and holding the tool in its operative position for the clinching operation` a depending projection on the end of the cam or extension 10 is entered and/ or lowered into the space between the adjacent cleats 18 of the adjoining panels 12 and 12a until the ledges or shoulders 21 at the opposite sides of the projection 20 seat upon these cleats. Relatively sharp or pointed pins 24 depending from the bottom edge of the back plate aid further in retaining the panels and tool in their proper operative positions as the wire hinges are connected and clinched.

The frame or supporting structure for the tool includes a pair of spaced vertical angle members 2S bolted or otherwise secured to the back plate 23 and a pair of spaced bracket plates 26 secured or aixed to the angle members. These angle members are connected adjacent their upper end by a transverse pin 27 and may be suspended or supported thereby from a suitable supporting structure or mechanism which will carry the tool when4 the latter is being operated.

The back plate 23 is shown in the form of a substantially rectangular plate longitudinally and vertically slotted adjacent its upper end at 28 to receive therein and permit vertical movement of a handle 29, with the inner or rear end of the handle fulcrumed upon a cross bar 30 bridging and having its ends journalled in the bracket plates 26 at the rear of the back plate. At its outer or forward end the handle is provided with a hand grasping portion 3l. This handle is shown as of substantially inverted T-shape with the base 3%2 thereof intermediate its ends seating upon a horizontally arranged bar 33. Adjacent the ends of this bar depend spaced and substantially vertically projecting clinching pitmans 34. These pitmans are in the form of elongated bars pivotally suspended at their upper end from cotter pins or the like journalled or carried in the: bar 33 and having their lower end 36 camrned, curved or conformed to bend and clinch the projecting end of a short leg 16 of one hinge after the end thereof has been threaded through the eye or loop 19 ot' the longer leg 15 of the acljacent hinge. Bridging the slot 28 adjacent its upper end is an upper stop in the form of an adjustable plate 37 suitably axed or anchored to the back plate 23 in adjusted position and having a relatively narrow vertical channel 37a adapted to receive the upwardly projecting ange of the handle and limit its upward path of travel, while a lower stop 37b is adapted to be engaged by the base 32 of the handle at the end of its downward stroke and thus limit its downward path of travel (see Figs. l. and 14).

The handle 29 is spring-biased to raised or inoperative position by means of one or more coil springs 38 connected at one end to the handle and at the other end to the cross or transverse pin 27.

A second handle 39 which may be of similar cross section to the handle 29 projects through an elongated and vertically extending slot 40 in the back plate 23 and ci a width to conformably receive the handle, with the inner end of this handle fulcrumed upon a pin 41 projecting through and carried by the lower end of a pair of links 42. These links are pivotally supported by and depend from the cross or transverse bar 30 journalled at its ends in the bracket plates 26. This slot 4i) like the slot 23 is of sulicient width to receive and guide the base 32 of the handle 39 as the handle is moved vertically.

An upper stop for the handle 39 is in the form of a bridging plate 43 mounted on the exterior or front face of the back plate 23, and this plate like the plate 37 is provided with a vertically arranged narrow slot 37il adapted to receive the upper flange of the handle 39'and limit its upward throw or movement. The throw of this handle like that of the handle 29 may be varied by adjustably mounting the plate 43 in the manner shown in which this plate is provided with spaced elongated notches at 44 adapted to receive anchoring bolts or other attaching means 45. Loosening the bolts permits vertical shifting or adjustment of the plate. By reason of the pivotal mounting of the handle and its connection to the links 42, the latter provide a pendulum that swings backwardly and forwardly as the handle 39 is lowered and raised. A suitable lower stop for the lower handle 39 is provided to limit its downward path of travel.

Secured to the base of the handle 39 is a block or transverse bar 46 carrying a pair of spaced, depending threading pitmans 47 pivotally supported or hung from a cross pin 48 carried by the bar 46. This handle 39 like the handle 29 is spring-biased to raised or inoperative position by one or more coil springs 49 connected at one end to the upper flange of the handle and at the other end to one or more cross pins 50 bridging the bracket plates 26. Each threading pitman 47 has a lower end portion 4".'a curved or contoured at its base in such manner as to provide a camming surface 51 for engaging the partially bent or inclined and longer leg 15 of one of the wire hinge elements, as well as the shorter end 16 of the other hinge element.

Spaced upwardly from the camming end S1, each threading pitman 47 is provided with an outwardly pro-jA jecting extension or enlargement 52 and an adjacent camming surface 53 adapted to be engaged or contacted by the outer end of a dog 54 pivotally mounted adjacent its outer end upon a pin 55 carried by and bridging spaced side plates of a yoke 56 adapted to receive therebetween the pivoted end of the dog and with this yoke mounted upon the upper end of a threading lever 57.

Each threading lever is pivotally mounted upon and adapted to rotate through a predetermined arc of movement about a fixed pin 58 mounted in the back plate 23, and has its upper end 59 received and adjustably mounted within the side plates of the yoke 56 by spaced securing bolts 61 passing through elongated slots 62 in the side plates. generally by the reference numeral 63, permit ready adjustment of these plates and the dog 54 carried thereby relative to the threading lever 57. A spacer 60 against which each lever 57 is adapted to abut, limits its rotation in one direction.

A spring 56a having one end received in a slot in the underside of dog (see Fig. 3) and its other end anchored in the yoke, bears against the underside of this dog, whereby when the dog is free of downward pressure (see Fig. 6) this spring holds the dog in an elevated position or at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the-- .10p edge of the threading lever 57. Thus the outer end- A set screw and lock nut and washer designated of the dog is prevented from dropping down and under the bottom end of its threading pitman 47.

Each threading lever is provided with a shoulder or ledge adjacent its upper end at 64 for camming engagement with its dog 54 and at its lower end is provided or formed with a curved projection 65, the end 66 of which is recessed or channelled and adapted to be swung or rotated into engagement with the vertical projecting end of the short leg 16 of a wire hinge at a predetermined period in the cycle of operation.

A yoke and guide bar 67 (see Figs. 1, 2 and l5) is mounted on and in forwardly spaced relation with the back plate 23 by the spacers 60. This yoke and guide bar is provided at the rear thereof with end blocks 68 and a center block 68a spaced apart to provide vertical slots along its rear face to receive the clinching pitmans 34 and guide their simultaneous vertical and pendulum-like or lateral movement during the clinching operation. As shown in Fig. 15, the upper edges of the center block 68n are bevelled and upon contact therewith of the descending upper bevelled surface of the recess 76 in the edge of the pitmans 34, the pitmans ride over and are guided thereby. Thus the clinching pitmans 34 descend a substantial distance before they are forced to swing outward, making more certain the contact with and clinching of the end of the wire.

Each clinching pitman 34 is provided with an angle member or bracket 72 (Figs. 6 and 13) which is rigidly aixed thereto or formed integral with the pitman. It provides bevelled surfaces '728L and 72b at the lower end of the member 72 with its bevel 72b aligned with the bevel at the upper end of the recess 70 along one edge of the pitman. This member assures that each clinching pitman moves outward the required distance to properly form the clinch in the wire.

One end of a coil spring 69 is anchored to each end block 68 of the yoke 67 with the other end of the spring connected to the curved projection 65 of a threading lever 57 whereby to assure spring-biasing this lever to a retracted or inoperative position.

A wire spring 71 has its opposite ends secured to or embedded in the upper end of each ofthe lower end portions 47a of the threading pitmans 47 to hold these pitmans in contact with the center guide piece or vertical bar 11 carrying the cam 1i), and as these pitmans reach the end of their stroke the spring maintains the lower ends in Contact with the inclined faces of the cam 10. A pair of flat steel springs 73 having their upper end anchored in an adjustable bracket 74 on the back plate 23 and their depending lower end free, have these free ends so positioned as to turn the dogs 54 inwardly and downwardly after the cam-shaped side extensions or projections 52 on the threading pitmans 47 have passed the ends of these dogs in their upward movement.

A spring arm 75 is associated with each clinching pitman 34. Each arm is rigidly attached at one end 76 to the upper end of a clinching pitman 34 and with the other or free end 77 of each arm anchored to one end of a coil spring 78, the other end of each coil spring being attached to a bracket 79 secured to the back plate 23. An inturned ange 76a on each spring arm overlaps the edge of its pitman. As the pitmans 34 start their downward movement, the springs 78 and spring arms 75 cause their lower ends to move laterally from their positions at one end of the slots in yoke 67 to their opposite ends. When the pitmans are near the end of their upward travel, the springs 78 and spring arms 75 cause the lower ends of the clinching pitmans to resume and remain in the position shown in Fig. 1.

A rocker plate 81 (Figs. 2 and 1l) is hingedly or pivotally connected intermediate its ends by means of pins S2 having their ends journalled in spaced brackets 83 mounted upon the rear face of the back plate 23. This plate 81 is provided with an upwardly opening vertical and centrally disposed slot to receive and guide a vertically movable link or bar S4. This link is pivotally or hingedly connected by means of a transverse pin 85 to and suspended from the underside of the lower handle 39 and carries at its lower end a cam block or slide 86 for rocking the plate 81. This cam block or slide is of substantially -shape in horizontal cross section, and when the handle 39 is in raised position this block or slide 86 is elevated and in contact with and presses outwardly against a pair ot shoes 87 mounted on the inner face of the rocker plate 81.

The shoes 87 are right and left-hand and each is inclined at 88 so that as the cam block or slide 86 is lowered with the handle 39, it rides over this inclined surface as the lower end of the rocker plate is springbiased outwardly or away from the back plate 23 by one or more coil springs 89 which force or throw the upper end of the rocker plate with its shoes inwardly toward the back plate whereby to retract a pair of gauge pins 90 at the lower end of the rocker plate. These pins are adapted to project through openings 91 in the back plate at the lower end thereof, and their forward or outward movement through these openings is limited by stop pins 92 upon which the springs 89 are supported. These gauge pins 90 locate the short or vertical legs 16 of the hinges 13 and 14 a fixed distance from the back plate 23 when the panels 12 and 12av are initially located beneath the tool and each leg 16 is in contact with its respective gauge pin. At such time the eyes or loops 19 of these hinges are in contact with the front face of the back plate 23.

As shown more clearly in Fig. ll, the handle 29 for operating the clinching pitmans 34 and the handle 39 for operating the threading pitmans 47 are preferably connected by a strut 93 having its upper end 94 longitudinally slotted and each slot adapted to receive a bolt 95 passing through an enlarged opening in the base of the inverted T-shaped handle 29 at each side of the vertical stem of the handle. These elongated slots in the strut aligned with the openings in the base of the handle permit adjustment of the length of the strut and by making the openings in the base 32 of the handle larger than the diameter of the bolts, clearance is provided for movement of the strut relative to the handle.

The lower end 96 of the strut is bifurcated or notched to straddle the stem of the inverted T-shaped lower handle 39, A lng 97 also straddles the stem of the T and is affixed to the base 32 of the handle 39. A wire loop 98 straddles the handle 29 and with the ends of the loop secured to the strut as by means of a bolt 99 at the center of the strut projecting through eyes 161 in the ends of the wire.

When the top handle 29 is lowered, the strut pushes the lower handle 39 down at a somewhat faster rate due to the toggle-like action of the strut. This pushing down of the lower handle results in the gauge pins 90 at the bottom of the back plate being retracted out of the path of the descending clinching pitmans 34. However, the movement of the lower handle 39 operating the threading pitmans 47 is not suicient to cause any interference with the proper operation of the clinching pitmans 34 through the handle 29.

When the lower handle 39 is operated to cause the threading levers and pitmans to act on the hinge wires, the strut 93 disengages from the lug 97 and the lower handle after it has radiused down far enough for the wire loop 98 on the strut to engage the top edge of the vertical stem of the upper handle. When the lower handle 39 is retracted to its upper or inactive position, the strut 93 reengages the handle 39 and lug 97.

In the operation of the present novel tool, after the crate panels 12 and 12a or the like to be hingedly joined are positioned beneath the tool upon a suitable support and with the wire hinge elements 13 and 14 in the position shown in Figs. l and 3, the tool is lowered onto the panels or the supporting base upon which the panels rest is raised to locate the crate panels in their proper relationship.l Pressure between the tool and the panels to prevent relative movement during the operation of the tool may be supplied manually or mechanically by means of any suitable mechanism. When the tool is in proper position the short or vertical legs 16 of these hinges are in contact with the ends of the gauge pins 90 and the eyes or loops 19 of the long legs 15 are disposed against the back plate 23. Such relative movement places the depending projection or extension 20 on the lower forward end of the vertical bar or center guide piece 11 between the adjacent panels 12 and 12a to be hingedly connected. In this position the upwardly disposed legs 15 of the wire hinges are positioned to the rear or back of the depending projection or extension and under the end of the bar or guide piece 11 (Figs. 1 and 3).

The handle 39 carrying the pair of threading pitmans 47 is then depressed or lowered whereby to force downwardly these threading pitmans, and as they are lowered the camming surface 53 on the side extensions 52 of these pitmans contact the forwardly or inwardly projecting end of the pair of dogs 54 each pivotally carried on one end of a threading lever 57. This cumming engagement causes each threading lever 57 to rotate about its pin or pivot 58 and move its curved threading projection 65 inwardly with its notched or recessed end 66 engaging the short or vertical leg 16 of the hinge elements 13 and 14 and bending these legs 16 inwardly until they are disposed beneath and in threading alignment with the eye or loop 19 on the longer legs 15 of the other hinge element.

As the pitmans 47 continue to move downwardly, the eye or loop 19 of each hinge being engaged by the end 47a of its respective pitman is then threaded or forced down and over the leg 16, after which the end 47a of each of the pitmans engages and rides over the outwardly and downwardly curved or cammed surfaces 10 and is directed thereby outwardly or laterally. At such time the eye or loop 19 is pushed or forced further downwardly on the short leg 16 of each hinge, and this short leg is contacted by and forced to follow the curved or cam surface 51 on the lower end 478L whereby it is turned outwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. Thus, when the threading pitmans 47 reach the lower end of their stroke or path of travel, the longer leg 15 and its eye or loop 19 of each hinge lies upon the top face of the panels and the shorter leg 16 is in contact with and deformed by the curved or cam surface 51.

To permit the ends 66 of the threading levers 57 to engage the legs 16, the gauging pins 90 are automatically retracted from the position they usually occupy in which they project for approximately one-eighth of an inch beyond the face of the back plate 23, to a position substantially flush therewith. This is accomplished when handle 39, link 84 and the slide 86 are lowered sufiiciently from thc position of Fig. 2 to permit the slide to traverse the inclined face 88 of the shoes 87 to a position below the lower ends of the inclined face, whereupon the spring 89 tilts the lower end of the rocker plate 81 rearwardly and retracts the pins 90 which are in the path of the ends 66 of the levers 57.

During the downward stroke of the threading pitmans 47 as just described, the camming surfaces 53 and the outwardly extending projections 52 on these pitmans remain in Contact with the dogs 54 until the point is reached where these dogs ride over the outer surface or enlargement of the projections 52, whereupon the dogs are moved inwardly and the ends 66 of the threading levers S7 move outwardly as the levers 57 are rotated on their pins 58 by springs 69. This takes place when the lower end,47a of the pitmans has moved close to the end 66 of the threading levers 57. During this action the dogs 54 are movable through a limited arc about their pins or fulcrums 5S. When the pitmans 47 reach the end of their downward stroke and the handle 39 is released these pitmans are retracted to their upper raised and inoperative position by means of the coil spring or springs 49.

As the pitmans 47 are retracted and moved upwardly by the spring or springs 49, the cam-shaped outwardly extending projections 52 thereon lift the dogs 54 until theylclear, whereupon these freely pivoted dogs acted on by the springs 56a assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The springs 56a elevate the dogs when free so as to prevent their free ends from dropping and getting under the bottom end of the threading pitmans. The ends ot the depending springs 73 are so disposed at the opposite sides of the tool as to intercept these dogs and turn them inwardly and impart an initiall downward movement to them after the projections S2 have passed the ends ofthese dogs.

After this threading operation has been accomplished and the gauge pins 90 again move to their extended or forward position, the handle 29 carrying the clinching pitmans 34 is moved downwardly until the clinching ends 36 of these pitmans which immediately moved to the inner ends of the slots in yoke 67, engage the outturned end of the short legs 16 and clinch these ends down into tight contact against or embed them in the upper surface of the panels 12 and 12a.

To accomplish this clinching operation, the lower end 36 of each clinching pitman is provided with a cam surface at 102 (Fig. 8) to receive and deform the end of a leg 16. The end 36 of each pitman 34 is deflected outwardly by the inclined surface of the recess in the edgeof the pitman riding over the inclined or bevelled end of the slot in yoke 67, by the inclined or bevelled surfaces of the member 72 (Fig. 6), and by the thrust of leg 16 of the wire as it is deformed and clinched against the material of the panels (Figs. 7 and 8).

Upon release of the handle 29 the spring or springs 38 retract this handle and its clinching pitmans 34 to their upper raised and inoperative position. Thereafter the tool or machine is raised from the joined or hinged crate panels and moved into position to clinch another hinge assembly, or the clinched panels therebeneath are replaced by another set of panels to be hinged.

Although the threading and clinching pitmans are shown as manually lowered or depressed and springbiased to elevated and inoperative position, it will be readily appreciated that actuation or operation thereof may be accomplished from a suitable source of power.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. In a tool forl the assembly and clinching of a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members for connecting the adjacent panels of a collapsible crate, comprising in combination a Vertical support including a back plate adapted to be supported above the panels placed in closely spaced relation therebeneath, a handle pivotally mounted in the support, a pair of threading pitmans carried by the handle and adapted to be lowered into engagement with one of the upwardly projecting legs of the hinge members, a pair of threading levers rotatably mounted on the back plate and each adapted to engage the other leg of the hinge members, camming means on said pitmans adapted to rotate said levers in timed relation with the lowering of the pitmans whereby to bend the legs of the hinge members into interengagement with the other leg members, and clinching means on said back plate for completing the bending and securely interlocking the hinge members and anchoring the hinges onto the panels whereby adjacent panels are hinged together.

2. A tool for the assembly of a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members adapted to be joined in interlocking engagement for hinging together adjacent panels of a collapsible crate and with one of the spaced legs of each member connected to a panel and the legs of both members projecting above the upper surface of the panels and the end of one of the legs of each member having a loop for receiving an end of the other leg of the adjacent member, comprising in combination a support, longitudinally movable threading members on said support adapted to engage and bend the loop ends of the pair of hinge members toward the other projecting ends of these hinge members, means for operating said threading members, other threading members associated with and operating in timed relation with and actuated by movement of the rst mentioned threading members for engaging and bending the projecting ends toward the loop ends and threading and interengaging said ends whereby the projecting ends enter and pass through the loops, means for releasing and means for withdrawing said second mentioned members as said rst mentioned members continue to engage and press said loop ends flat against the panels and bend the projecting ends outwardly, means for withdrawing said rst mentioned threading members from engagement with said ends upon release of its operating means, clinching members movably mounted on said support for bending and clinching the projecting ends over the loop ends to lock the hinge members onto the panels, and means for operating said clinching members.

3. A tool for attaching a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members adapted to be joined in interlocking engagement for hinging together adjoining crate panels arranged in a substantially horizontal plane beneath the tool with one of the spaced legs of each member connected to a panel and the legs of both members projecting above the upper surface of the panels and the end of one of the legs of each member having a loop for receiving an end of the other leg of the adjacent member, comprising in combination a rigid support, threading pitmans movably mounted on said support and adapted to be lowered into engagement with and bending the loop ends of these hinge members toward the other projecting ends of these hinge members, means for operating said threading pitmans, threading members rotatably mounted on said support and operating in timed relation with said pitmans for engaging and bending the projecting ends toward the loop ends and threading and interengaging said ends whereby the projecting ends enter and pass through the loops, means for operating said threading members in timed relation with the lowering of said pitmans, means for retracting said threading members as said pitmans continue to move and depress said loop ends and force them downwardly onto the panels and simultaneously engaging and bending the projecting ends outwardly, means for retracting said pitmans, clinching means movably mounted on said support for completing the bending and clinching of the projecting ends over the loop ends to anchor the hinge members onto the panels, and means for moving said clinching means into bending and clinching engagement with the last mentioned projecting ends.

4. A tool for attaching a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members adapted to be joined in interlocking engagement for hinging together adjoining crate panels arranged in a substantially horizontal plane beneath the tool with one of the spaced legs of each member connected to a panel and the legs of both members projecting above the upper surface of the panels and the end of one of the legs of each member having a loop for receiving an end of the other leg of the adjacent member, comprising in combination a rigid supporting frame, threading pitmans movably mounted on said frame and adapted to be lowered into engagement with and bending the loop ends of these hinge members toward the other projecting ends of these hinge members, means for operating said threading pitmans, threading members pivotally mounted on said frame and operating in timed relation with said pitmans for engaging and bending the projecting ends toward the loop ends and threading and interengaging said ends whereby the projecting ends enter and pass through the loops, means for operating said threading members in timed relation with the movement of the threading pitmans, means for retracting said threading members as said pitmans continue to depress said loop ends and force them downwardly onto the panels, camming surfaces against which said pitmans engage and are moved laterally and bend the projecting ends outwardly toward clinching position, clinching pitmans movably mounted on said frame for engaging the outwardly bent projecting ends and completing bending of these ends downwardly into contact with the panels, and means for operating said clinching pitmans.

5. A tool for attaching a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members adapted to be joined in interlocking engagement for hinging together the panels of a collapsible crate with the spaced legs of these members projecting beyond a face of each panel with one leg of each member projecting through an opening in the panel and the other leg of each member projecting between the adjacent ends of said panels and these last mentioned legs each provided with an eye for receiving a projecting end of the other hinge member, comprising in combination a support, a pair of threading pitmans on said support, means for moving said pitmans into engagement with and bending the loop ends of these hinge members toward the other projecting ends of these hinge members, rotatably mounted and cam-actuated threading members on said support operated by and in timed relation with the movement of said pitmans for engaging and bending the projecting ends toward the loop ends and threading and interengaging said ends whereby the projecting ends enter and pass through the loops, means for retracting said threading members as said pitmans continue to depress said loop ends and force them downwardly onto the panels, camming surfaces against which said pitmans end gage and are moved laterally and bend the projecting ends outwardly toward clinching position, clinching pitmans on said support for engaging the outwardly bent projecting ends upon retraction of the threading pitmans and completing bending of these ends downwardly into contact with the panels, and means for operating said clinching pitmans.

6. A device for the assembly of a pair of preformed, substantially U-shaped corner hinge elements for joining adjacent panels of a crate with each hinge element having one leg projecting through and connected to a panel and the other leg provided with an eye for receiving the projecting leg of the other hinge element, comprising a tool adapted to be positioned above a pair of crate panels to be hinged together by said hinge elements and including means for centering the tool above the panels and the hinge elements to be joined and retaining the tool in Xed position, means on said tool for bending the projecting leg of each hinge element and other means on said tool for bending the other leg of the hinge elements and directing the aligned eye of the other leg of each of the hinge elements over a projecting leg of each hinge element and further bending the legs so joined, means on said tool for clinching the bent ends of the projecting legs against the panels whereby the hinge elements are interlocked and the panels hinged together, and means for operating said clinching means.

7. A device for the threaded connection and clinching of a pair of substantially U-shaped wire hinge members for hinging adjoining panels of a collapsible crate, said hinge elements having one leg received in and projecting through an opening in a panel and its end projecting thereabove and the other leg extending over and above the other panel and thereat provided with a loop, comprising in combination a support, a pair of threading pitmans and a pair of threading levers mounted on and operated in timed relation on said support to engage and bend the projecting and loop ends of the hinge elements and threading the projecting end of each hinge element through the loop end of the other hinge element to thereby join these ends, means for operating said threading pitmans and means actuated by movement of the threading pitmans for operating the threading levers, a pair of clinching pitmans on said support adapted to engage the partially bent projecting ends ot the hinge elements and bend and clinch them over the loop ends for hingng together the adjoining panels, and means for operating the clinching pitmans.

8. A device for the threaded connection and clinching of a pair of substantially U-shaped Wire hinge members for hinging adjoining panels of a collapsible crate, said hinge elements having one leg received in and projecting through an opening in a panel and its end projecting thereabove and the other leg extending over and above the other panel and thereat provided with a loop, comprising in combination mechanism adapted to engage the loop on one leg of theV hinge elements, mechanism for engaging the projecting end of the other leg of the hinge elements, means for operating said engaging mechanisms for bending and threading a projecting end of one hinge element in and through a loop of the other hinge element, mechanism for clinching the bent ends of the previously bent legs projecting through the loops to interlock the hinge elements and the panels together and whereby the adjoining panels are hingedly connected, and means for operating said clinching mechanism.

9. In a clinching tool for connecting a pair of wire corner hinge elements for connecting adjoining panels and each hinge element being of approximate U-shape with one leg of each hinge element provided with an eye at its upper end and the end of the other leg adapted to be received in an eye when the hinge elements are joined together to provide a corner hinge assembly, said tool including a supporting frame, a handle springbiased to raised inoperative position, a pair of threading pitmans longitudinally movable on the-frame and carried by and depending from the handle and each adapted to be simultaneously moved into engagement with a loop end of a hinge element, threading levers pivotally mounted on the frame and actuated by operation of said pitmans for engaging the projecting end of the hinge elements and threading the projecting end of one hinge element into and through a loop on'the leg of the other hinge element, means for actuating said threading levers, and means movably mounted on said frame for clinching the bent ends of the legs projecting through the loops to interlock the hinge elements and the panels together and whereby the adjoining panels are hingedly connected.

10. Mechanism for the assembly of a pair of preformed, substantially U-shaped Wire hinge elements each having spaced legs one of which is provided with an eye, comprising in combination threading means for engaging and bending the legs provided with an eye, other threading means for engaging and bending the other legs, means for actuating said threading means for directing a leg of one hinge element into and through the eye on a leg of the other hinge element, means for simultaneously clinching the bent end of the leg of each hinge element, and means for operating said clinching means.

11. Mechanism for hingedly connecting the corners of adjacent panels by a pair of similarly formed wire hinge members each preformed and of substantially U-shape and each having a leg projecting through and beyond the upper surface of one panel and the other leg extending between the adjacent panels and directed toward the other panel and provided with a loop on the end thereof, comprising in combination means for engaging and bending the loop ends of each of the hinge members, means for engaging the projecting ends of each of the hinge members, means for operating each of said engaging means for threading the projected end of one member through the loop end of the other member and bending the joined ends of each member, means for completing the bending and clinching of the projected ends extending beyond the loops and interlocking the hinge members whereby to join the panels in hinged relation, and means for actuating said last mentioned bending and clinching means.

l2. A device for hingedly connecting the corners of adjacent panels by a pair of similarly formed wire hinge members each of substantially U-shape and each having a leg projecting through and beyond the upper surface of one panel and the other leg extending between the adjacent panels and extending above the upper face of the adjacent panel, said last mentioned leg of each hinge member having a loop at the end thereof, said device including in combination means for bending the loop end of each hinge member toward the projecting end of the leg ofthe other hinge member, means for bending the projecting ends of these last mentioned legs, means for actuating each of said bending means for directing the projecting ends of the last mentioned legs through the loops of the other legs and to bend said engaged legs to thereby connect the hinge members, means for completing the bending and clinching of the projected ends and interlocking the hinge members whereby to join the panels in hinged relation, and means for operating said last mentioned means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,985 Brock June 14, 1887 959,941 Huntington May 31, 1910 1,139,799 Pratt May 18, 1915 1,209,186 McClintock Dec. 19, 1916 1,264,901 Craig May 7, 1918 2,138,495 Lewis Nov. 29, 1938 2,416,672 Archer Mar. 4, 1947 

